Lightning arrester



Now 1 1 1924.

J. A. SCH ERMERHORN LIGHTNING ARRESTER Filed Aug. 17. 1922 Patented Nov. 11, 182 1.

515,074 rN'r OFFICE.

J'O'SEPH ANDERSON SCHERMERHORN, OF TRENTQN, NE? JERSEY, ASSIG-NOR TO FREEMAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LIGHTNING ARRES'IER.

Applicationfiled Aug'ust 17, 1922. Serial No. 582,435.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Josnrn: A. SGHERMER- HORN, citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lightning Arresters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in lightning arresters and has special reference to an arrester especially adapted for use in radio installations.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical, reliable and safe device that will fully meet underwriters requirements and also making a good ground connection. To that end the invention contemplates a device that may be economically manufactured and readily assembled and which .when installed for use will adequately take care ofthe lightning discharges of small as well as large voltage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a completely encased and weatherproof device wherein one of the electrodes is adjustable thereby to compensate for variation in the manufacture of parts and insure their being brought into proper operative relation when the device is installed for use.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved device. I

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof.

Figure 3 is an interior plan view of the base section of the casing.

Figure is an interior plan view of the cap section.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Although it will of course be understood that the invention issusceptible of embodiment in various designs and structural forms, nevertheless the distinguishing features and characteristics thereof always consist of aweatherproof casing designated generally as A and providing an interior chamber B which houses the electrodes C and D, one of which is adjustable with relation to the other thereby to insure the proper contact of the parts when the. device is assembled for use. In that way any variation in the manufacture of the sections of the insulating casing A or the electrodes and their associated parts may be adequately compensated for in a simpleand practical manner.

Referring nowmore particularly to the details of the arrangement shown in the draw-. ings it will be observedthat the casing A preferably consistsof themating sections 1 and 2, the latter being provided with an upstandingthreaded portion 3 for fitting into the interiorly threaded flange 1 of the section 1. The said section 2 constitutes a body or base section while the opposite section functions as a cap although it will of course be understood that the designations of these members by such terms in no way limits the installation or use of the invention to the position illustrated, in the drawing.

The base section 2 is provided with a chamber, 5having the side wall thereof pro vided with the offset centering ribs 6, and, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 thebottom of this chamber may be provided with vent ports 7 for establishing communication between the interior of the casing and the outside air to permit of sufficient circulation to prevent condensation or the collection of. moisture which would interfere with the proper functioningof the electrodes. 1

The. cap section 1 is preferably formed. with a chamber 8, the wall of which is recessed to receive afeed nut 11 for the conduc tor rod 12 of the. electrode unit G, whereby by turning the same in the nut thereby to movetheelectrode unit Gitoward the unit D after the casing sections are assembled tobring the electrode units into proper rela-, 100

tion.

The electrode units C and]) are of simif lar construction, and each consists of a me tallic shell or thimble 13 provided with an out-turned flange 14; and carrying therein a 1 5 the drawings the exposed faces 17 of the car- 110 the said rod 12 may be shifted longitudinally bon disks;- prpject beyond; the flanges 14b thereby.to-. engage with and securely. clamp an insulating plate or sheet 18 of mica or the like betweenthecarhons oi', the. opposite electnodes Ag shown, this said micaplate 18 is provided with an Opening 19' and is of the same diameter as the flanged portionot: the thimble, thereby being entirely coextensive with the portions of the electrodes: which face each other. By this arrangement it will be seenfrom ,E-igure ..2.:that. the carbon inserts l5 areintendedito be. inrclose contacting relation withtheunica. plate, andby reason of the projection .ofzthe carbonsbeyond the open it endsotthethimble,'theflanges lasare spaced apart while the periphery ot. the mica plate projecting beyond the carbon disks-provides an iiisulat-ionbarrier. between the faces ofthe flanges 14a 20 Because i of. the. above arrangement. of: the

mica plate electrical currents of small v voltage. (less than 500 lvolts) will .passfrom one carbon to .the other: through .the opening 19, While, currents of" large voltage will pass between. the edges of-the flanges 14, thereby fully meeting underwriters? requirements inthat respfect; It willithereforebe apparent that-1' with the construction and arrangement described:theelectrodeiunits G and D adequately provide for safely handling currents. ofrlow. voltage as wellras. currents othighh voltage, preferably. arresting. thelatter in a safe.andipracticaliway.

As previously indicated the electrode unit 351 C is carriediby. the-threaded conductor rod 12.Wlrich works in thethreaded nut: 11. to adjust theposition of the unitG with reference to the unit D; and, for the purpos of loclringthe conductor rod '12 in the .posi tion, theportionthereof which projects beyond the. outsideofithecap lmaybe provided Withh a washer- 21 and lock-nut- 22- WithWhiclrthe binding .nut 23 .may cooper ate-in. the, usual manner-.to clampthe termin al wire or its equivalent to the-conductor. rod. The. portion of the cap-.1 thmoughwhich theconducton rod passes may berecessed asxati and filled with a suitable filler such as celnents orputty thereby to make. a Waters-tight joint. betweenthe washer. 21:

andzthe cap The electrode unit D is: carriedwbiyr the, conductor 12%, which, like the rod 12 is provided with. a. flanged head on that isclampedzbetween th eiendsaofi the thimble 13 and the carbon disk orinsert 15, while theportionof the conductor rod which projects. beyond [the base.-.2 carries-the; usual loclc-nut22esand bindingnut 23 Iniassemblingthe device. foriuse the electrodeunitrD'is placedin .a fixed or stationary. position imthebase, and the .micaplate 18 is. preferably centered onthe face. of thecarbon byathe centering rib: 6. The cap section 1. a may-nbeithenfitted tothe; base-by screwing the interiorly threaded flange t thereof onto the. threaded portion 3 of. the base and the conductor rod 12 may be rotated in the nut 11 until. the carbonof. the electrode unit C firmly engages with the micaplate. The sealing medium may. thereafter be placedinthe recess 24 of the cap 1 and the washer 21 and lock-nut then placed in position. lvthenthe device is thus assembled it is ready for installation by simply connecting the binding nuts 23 and. 23 with the proper terminals.

Without further description itis thoughtthat the features and'advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled intheart and. it will oi"v course be understood that changes. in the form, pro? portion and minor details of construction may be resorted'to Without departing from the spirit of: the. inventionor scope of 'the appended claims.

1 claim 1. A lightning arrester including a pair of cup-like insulating casing sections having interfitting mating open end portions, electrodes oarriedi by said: sections. and: housed'therein, said electrodes includingcarbon disks and metallic thimbles carriediby the disks.-

2. A lightning arrester including-a casing consisting of separable. complemental sections, electrode units carriedby said sections, and'mea-ns for shifting one electrode with reference to the other.

3. A lightning arrester including hollow detachably connected icomplemental sections providingan interior electrode chamber, an

electrodeunit carried by. each section and arranged Within/the chamber, and means for bringing said sections into operative relation. independently of the position. of the casingparts.

4. A lightning arresten including, achambered base section havingathreaded flange. a chambered .cap sectionhaving an interiorly. threaded portion for receiving said flange,-v an electrode unit rigidly carried .by, the. base and a cooperating electrode unitr adj ustablyr carried by the cap whereby. the electrodes: may bebro-ught into operative relation independently of the cap and base.

5. .A lightning arrester including -a;base section, an electrode rigidly mounted therein, a cap; section detachably fitted to the base, and an electrode adjustably carried by. thecap, said electrode including-a. conductor member movably mounted inathecap to be shiftedin the; direction of-itsaxis.

6-. A lightning arrester includingabasc section, therein, atcap, section detachablywfittedito the-base, and an electrode adjustably=-carried by the cap.,. saidelectrode member including a threaded :conductorzro.d, a. nut carried in the. cap .and receiving said threaded stationaryelectrode mounted conductor rod thereby to shift said electrode unit with reference to the stationary electrode carried by the base.

7, A lightning arrester including mating casing sections, opposite electrode units carried by said sections and each unit consisting of a metallic thimble and a carbon disk therein and projecting beyond the open end thereof, and an insulating plate adapted to be arranged between the carbons of the opposite electrodes and providing an insulation barrier between the spaced edges of said thimbles.

8. A lightning arrester including mating casing sections, electrode units carried by said sections and each unit consisting of a metallic thimble having an offset terminal flange at its open end, a carbon disk arranged within the thimble and projecting beyond the face of its flange, and a peri orated insulating plate clamped between the carbons and the peripheral edge of said plate extending beyond the carbons and providing an insulation barrier between the spaced flanges of the thimbles.

9. A lightning arrester including a base section formed with a chamber and having a vent port and centering ribs formed within the chamber, an electrode unit arranged in a fixed position within the chamber of the base, a cap section adapted to detachably engage the base, an electrode unit carried thereby, and an insulating plate adapted to be centered by the ribs in the chamber of the base and clamped between the electrode units carried by the cap and the base.

10. In a lightning arrester, a casing section, an electrode unit carried by said section, said electrode unit comprising a metallic thimble, a conductor rod having a for locking said conductor rod to the casing and a binding nut carried by the conductor rod.

11. In a lightning arrester, a casing memher, an electrode carried thereby, said electrode including a metallic thimble, a conductor rod connected to said thimble, means for adjustably connecting said rod with the casing, means for locking the rod in adjusted position, means for sealing the opening in the casing through which the conductor rod projects, and a binding nutcarried by said conductor rod.

12. A lightning arrester including spaced metallic thimbles, a carbon disk in each thimble and projecting beyond the open end thereof and an insulating plate arranged between the opposite carbons and projecting between the spaced edges of the thimbles.

'13. In a lightning arr-ester, oppositely arranged metallic electrode thimbles spaced apart at their edges, a carbon element fitted in each thimble and having a locked engagement therewith, and an insulator disposed between the spaced edges of the metallic thimbles.

14. In a lightning arrester, oppositely arranged metallic thimbles spaced apart at their edges and each carrying a carbon disk projecting beyond the open end thereof, and adjusting means for one of said thimbles and the carbon carried thereby.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature,

JOSEPH ANDERSON SCHERMERHORN. 

